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Brazil🇧🇷 | festivalsFestival de Cinema de GramadoKikito trophies, August screenings, Palácio dos Festivais, filmmaker debates | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in de Cinema de Gramado
👌 Worth visitingfestival ranked #12
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

The Kikito statuette, a small figure created by artist Elisabeth Rosenfeld to represent the god of good humor, is what Festival de Cinema de Gramado is known for, and you see it on banners across town. It runs each August in Gramado, a mountain town in Brazil’s south, roughly 115 km northeast of Porto Alegre. A hotel owner told me, “Book now, the Palácio dos Festivais sells out by Tuesday.” He was right about everything filling up. Skip the red-carpet gala unless you own formal wear; free screenings and Q&As give the real value. Reserve beds months ahead, since prices triple and last-minute rooms are poor value. Buy tickets online the day they release.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #12 festival in BrazilWhat makes it a must-see festival

Festival de Cinema de Gramado gives you Latin American and Brazilian cinema in a setting where the whole town becomes the venue. Backpackers plan around it for two reasons. First, the film community is easy to meet: directors, actors and students share the same cafés on Avenida das Hortênsias, and conversation starts without effort. Second, the schedule is generous. Many screenings at the Palácio dos Festivais and open-air sessions cost little or nothing, so a film-obsessed traveler can see several features a day. It also fits a southern Brazil loop well, pairing with the Serra Gaúcha wine towns and nearby Canela, so you can build a week around it and still keep cash for the rest of the trip.

💡 HighlightsWhat this place is best known for

  1. Kikito Awards Ceremony: The closing night where the Kikito trophies are handed out is the festival’s defining moment, held at the Palácio dos Festivais with a live feed on big screens outside.
  2. Palácio dos Festivais: The main theater, in the town center, hosts the competitive screenings and the red-carpet arrivals. Watching the entrances from the street costs nothing.
  3. Competitive Feature Screenings: Brazilian and Latin American films compete in separate categories, so you can catch premieres that rarely reach other cities.
  4. Short Film Sessions: Shorts are programmed in their own sessions, a cheap way to sample many directors in one sitting.
  5. Post-Screening Debates: Filmmakers and critics discuss each film with the audience, usually in Portuguese, and the exchanges can be frank and lively.
The Palácio … read more 👉
  1. Kikito Awards Ceremony: The closing night where the Kikito trophies are handed out is the festival’s defining moment, held at the Palácio dos Festivais with a live feed on big screens outside.
  2. Palácio dos Festivais: The main theater, in the town center, hosts the competitive screenings and the red-carpet arrivals. Watching the entrances from the street costs nothing.
  3. Competitive Feature Screenings: Brazilian and Latin American films compete in separate categories, so you can catch premieres that rarely reach other cities.
  4. Short Film Sessions: Shorts are programmed in their own sessions, a cheap way to sample many directors in one sitting.
  5. Post-Screening Debates: Filmmakers and critics discuss each film with the audience, usually in Portuguese, and the exchanges can be frank and lively.
The Palácio dos Festivais and the short film sessions combine well in one day, since you can watch the entrances at midday and sit through a block of shorts by evening.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Festival de Cinema de Gramado

Adventure "The Theft of the Diamond"

Adventure "The Theft of the Diamond"

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Adventure Infection in Gramado

Adventure Infection in Gramado

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per personViator
Guided Tour with Wine Tasting at Casa Seganfredo - Gramado

Guided Tour with Wine Tasting at Casa Seganfredo - Gramado

4.9(267)
From €24
per personViator
ChocoBus - A Journey in the World of Chocolate!

ChocoBus - A Journey in the World of Chocolate!

4.8(304)
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per personViator
Grape and Wine Tour with Maria Smoke and Lunch Included More

Grape and Wine Tour with Maria Smoke and Lunch Included More

4.7(212) 12h
From €83
per personViator
Parque Cultural Epopeia Italiana

Parque Cultural Epopeia Italiana

4.5(197) 45m
From €9.58
per personViator
Personalized City Tour in the Top Attractions of Gramado/Canela

Personalized City Tour in the Top Attractions of Gramado/Canela

4.9(88)
From €72
per personViator
Tour group dreans imperdible with transport included

Tour group dreans imperdible with transport included

5.0(57)
From €63
per personViator
Tour Hortencias cinnamon Private lawn - 1-4 Pax by Fatur Turismo

Tour Hortencias cinnamon Private lawn - 1-4 Pax by Fatur Turismo

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Private transfer up to 4 passengers airport POA/gramado

Private transfer up to 4 passengers airport POA/gramado

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From €87
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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of Festival de Cinema de Gramado?

The Festival de Cinema de Gramado runs for about nine days each August, with screenings at the Palácio dos Festivais in the center of Gramado, in Brazil’s Serra Gaúcha.
  • Best days: The opening and closing nights bring the red carpet and the Kikito awards, but tickets and hotels vanish fast. Midweek days have the same films with shorter lines.
  • Weather: Expect 3 to 15°C (37 to 59°F) with cold mornings, drizzle and fog. Bring a warm coat, gloves and a compact umbrella. Daylight ends early in the evening.
  • Booking: Reserve beds two to three months ahead. Prices commonly rise 50 to 100 percent on festival weekends.
  • Crowds: Arrive on a weekday. The BR-116 and RS-235 roads from Porto Alegre clog on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons.
Collect free screening tickets early in the day, since the popular sessions run out by midmorning.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: not recommended for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: not recommended for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: not recommended for travelingNOVNovember: not recommended for travelingDECDecember: not recommended for traveling

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

The center of Gramado, within walking distance of the Palácio dos Festivais, is the best base for backpackers, and it keeps you out of taxis at night. The streets around Avenida das Hortênsias and Rua Garibaldi are well lit, busy until late and full of cafés, so solo travelers feel comfortable walking back after evening screenings. Hostels and guesthouses cluster here, and the shared dorms and common rooms are where you will meet other festival-goers and trade tips on which sessions to catch.

Canela, about 8 km (5 miles) away, is the cheaper fallback, with a quieter feel and buses to Gramado … read more 👉
The center of Gramado, within walking distance of the Palácio dos Festivais, is the best base for backpackers, and it keeps you out of taxis at night. The streets around Avenida das Hortênsias and Rua Garibaldi are well lit, busy until late and full of cafés, so solo travelers feel comfortable walking back after evening screenings. Hostels and guesthouses cluster here, and the shared dorms and common rooms are where you will meet other festival-goers and trade tips on which sessions to catch.

Canela, about 8 km (5 miles) away, is the cheaper fallback, with a quieter feel and buses to Gramado every 20 to 30 minutes for roughly US$1 to 2. Staying there can save 20 to 40 percent on a bed during festival week. Nova Petrópolis is a calmer, rural option but needs a car. Avoid the far residential edges of Gramado, where hills and poor lighting make late walks tiring.
Best hostels in Brazil


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👛 Costs (as of 19 October 2026)What things cost and how to budget

A typical day at the Festival de Cinema de Gramado costs about US$85 to 120 for a budget traveler in high season, with a total of roughly US$105.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0 to 10Many screenings in the main venues are priced low or free, while gala nights cost more and sell out.
AccommodationUS$35 to 60Dorm beds in high season cost more than usual, and festival week adds a large premium. Canela is cheaper.
Local transportUS$2 to 8The center is walkable, with buses to Canela and occasional rideshares up the hills.
Food & drinksUS$20 to 30By-the-kilo lunches, street snacks and a café colonial or fondue treat.
MiscellaneousUS$5 to 10Warm clothing, souvenirs, chocolate and the odd extra ticket.
Total Daily BudgetUS$105Based on mid-range high-season dorm prices.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodLocal Flavors for Backpackers

The Serra Gaúcha’s German and Italian heritage shapes what you eat here. Around the Palácio and along Rua Coberta, look for chocolate shops, cuca cake, pastel and steaming cups of quentão, a spiced mulled cachaça that suits the chilly August nights. Many cafés pour thick hot chocolate by the mug.

For something authentic, order a café colonial spread of cakes, cold cuts and breads, or a fondue in the evening. Budget travelers can fill up on pinhão (pine nuts), roasted corn and savory pastries from street vendors for US$2 to 5. Many restaurants charge by the kilo at lunch, so weigh your plate sensibly.

Expect queues at popular cafés right after screenings, and book dinner on weekends. Cards are widely accepted, but carry a little cash for small stalls. Portions at fondue and colonial spreads … read more 👉
The Serra Gaúcha’s German and Italian heritage shapes what you eat here. Around the Palácio and along Rua Coberta, look for chocolate shops, cuca cake, pastel and steaming cups of quentão, a spiced mulled cachaça that suits the chilly August nights. Many cafés pour thick hot chocolate by the mug.

For something authentic, order a café colonial spread of cakes, cold cuts and breads, or a fondue in the evening. Budget travelers can fill up on pinhão (pine nuts), roasted corn and savory pastries from street vendors for US$2 to 5. Many restaurants charge by the kilo at lunch, so weigh your plate sensibly.

Expect queues at popular cafés right after screenings, and book dinner on weekends. Cards are widely accepted, but carry a little cash for small stalls. Portions at fondue and colonial spreads are made for sharing, so split them with new hostel friends.

FAQCommon questions from travelers

The Festival de Cinema de Gramado takes place every August and lasts about nine days. Screenings are held at the Palácio dos Festivais in central Gramado, in the Serra Gaúcha, roughly 120 km (75 miles) from Porto Alegre. Exact dates shift slightly each year, so check the official schedule by early summer.
Attending the Festival de Cinema de Gramado can cost as little as US$0 to 10 for tickets, since many sessions are cheap or free, while gala nights cost more. A realistic budget traveler spends US$85 to 120 per day including a bed, food and local transport. Accommodation is the biggest expense, with prices rising sharply during festival week.
Yes, for the Festival de Cinema de Gramado you should get tickets in advance for gala and competition screenings, which sell out quickly. Tickets for regular sessions are often released in batches a day or a few hours ahead through the official channels and at the Palácio box office. Arrive early in the morning for the most popular films, and book your bed two to three months ahead.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Brazilian festivals near de Cinema de Gramado

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We 💚 feedbackSumming up the experience

Film fans and curious students get the most from Festival de Cinema de Gramado; if you don’t read Portuguese, check subtitle availability before buying tickets. I would book lodging in nearby Canela, skip the gala, and spend that money on extra screenings.

✈️ When did I visit Brazil?
Call it good timing or luck, but I was able to celebrate Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro in February 2022, after a round trip in the north and east coast.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Brazil, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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